Corn. But if a man can frame himselfe to myrth, It is a meane for to prolong his life. Leir. Then welcome forrow, Leirs only friend, Who doth defire his troubled dayes had end. Corn. Comfort your felfe, father, here comes your daughter, Who much will grieue, I know, to see Enter Gonorill. you fad. Leir. But more doth grieue, I feare, to fee me liue. To put your father from these penfiue dumps. Gon. What, do you feare, that I haue angred him? Ile prouide him a piece of bread and cheese; To cease th' effect, where first the cause began. Leir. Alas, not I: poore foule, fhe breeds yong bones, And that is it makes her fo tutchy fure. Gon. What, breeds young bones already! you will make An honeft woman of me then, belike. O vild olde wretch! who euer heard the like, Mm 3 Exit. You You may go pack, and feeke fome other place, Leir. Thus, fay or do the beft that e're I can, And more then this ten thoufand thousand times : Cruell to him, to whom he hath bin kind. Why do I ouer-liue my felfe, to fee The courfe of nature quite reuerft in me? Did wish thy prefence with a perfit zeale : Then come, I pray thee, euen with all my heart, Per. Ah, do not fo difconfolate your felfe, Nor dew your aged cheeks with wafting teares. Leir. What man art thou that takest any pity Vpon the worthleffe ftate of old Leir? Exit. He weeper. Per. One, who doth beare as great a fhare of griefe, As if it were my dearest fathers cafe. Leir. Ah, good my friend, how ill art thou aduifde, For to confort with miferable men : Go learne to flatter, where thou mayft in time Get fauour 'mongst the mighty, and fo clyme: As that I ne're can recompence thy loue. Per. What's got by flattery, doth not long indure; Leir. Did I ere rayfe thee higher then the rest Of all thy ancestors which were before? Per. Ine're did feeke it; but by your good grace, I still inioyed my owne with quietnesse. Leir. Did I ere giue thee liuing, to increase The due reuennues which thy father left? Per. I had ynough, my lord, and hauing that, What should you need to giue me any more? Leir. Oh, did I euer difpoffeffe my felfe, And giue thee halfe my kingdome in good will? Per. Alas, my lord, there were no reason, why Per. Where reafon fayles, let teares confirme my loue, Leir. Oh, how thy words adde forrow to my foule, And gaue to her the halfe of all I had : Per. No doubt fhe would, and practife ere't be long, Leir. Well, fince thou doest aduise me for to go, I am refolu'd to try the worst of wo. Enter Ragan folus. Rag. How may I bleffe the howre of my natiuity, How may I thank kind fortune, that vouchsafes Enter Cornwall, Gonorill, and attendants. Excunt. Exit. Corn. Ah, Gonorill, what dire vnhappy chaunce Hath fequeftred thy father from our prefence, That no report can yet be heard of him? Some Some great vnkindneffe hath bin offred him, Elfe all the world shall neuer me perfwade, Gon. Alas, my lord, whom doth it touch fo neere, Whom forrow had brought to her longeft home, How all things goe, and how fhe likes her choyce : Therefore, my lord, be frolick, and refolue Corn. I hope fo too; but yet to be more fure, Whether he be arriued there or no. Gon. But I will intercept the messenger, And temper him before he doth depart, With sweet perfwafions, and with found rewards, And make my lord cease further to inquire. As fure my mind prefageth that he is, He happely may, by trauelling vnknowne wayes, Be dead and buried: would God it were fo well; Exit. As |